#USA #Chandler #VIAVI Solutions #Inertial Labs #VINS

Inertial Labs Launches a Revolutionary Navigation System

Inertial Labs, a subsidiary of VIAVI Solutions, unveiled a groundbreaking visual-aided inertial navigation system (VINS) designed to maintain accurate flight paths for aircraft, specifically in environments where reliable GPS or GNSS signals are absent. This innovative system comes at a crucial time when GPS signal jamming and spoofing incidents have surged across North America and Western Europe, posing significant challenges for both commercial and military aviation operations.

Navigational Challenges

The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported an alarming increase in GPS signal interference, with up to 700 incidents recorded daily. The data highlights causal links to active war zones, showcasing particular intensity in areas like Lithuanian airspace, which documented over 800 occurrences of GPS disruptions in just three months last year. Notably affected sectors extend beyond transportation to include emergency services that heavily depend on precise timing and accurate geolocation.

The VINS Advantage

The newly introduced VINS empowers Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to undertake extensive missions in regions where GNSS signals are unreliable. The technology relies on advanced 3D vision-based positioning software from Maxar’s Raptor, which calculates the vehicle’s absolute 3D position through a unique application of Perspective and Point (PnP) principles. The system compares visual patterns captured via onboard cameras—working with both standard and infrared technology—against satellite imagery-derived Maxar Precision3D maps to deliver accurate positional data.

In environments devoid of GNSS signals, VINS has showcased impressive performance metrics, maintaining a horizontal position accuracy of within 35 meters, with vertical positioning within 5 meters. It also exhibits a velocity accuracy of 0.9 meters per second, demonstrating robust reliability. When GNSS signals are accessible, the system performs even more accurately, pinning horizontal positions to just a meter and velocities to a mere 0.03 meters per second, alongside almost negligible deviations in heading and pitch/roll metrics.

Comprehensive and Modular Design

The system is tailored for low-altitude operations and comprises modular components that include processing and sensor modules, a GNSS/CRPA antenna, an air-data computer, and a digital wind speed sensor, making it compatible with both fixed-wing and multi-rotor UAVs.

Further enhancing its versatility, VINS can also be equipped with an off-the-shelf (COTS) radio for data transmission. It offers GPS-denied positioning assistance through an Iridium LEO GNSS receiver and an M-code/SAASM GNSS receiver.

Showcasing Innovation at Joint Navigation Conference

Inertial Labs plans to demonstrate both VINS and other innovative technologies, including its second-generation RSR Transcoder, at the upcoming Joint Navigation Conference from June 2-5 in the Cincinnati area. Both solutions aim to provide assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities, particularly in degraded or disrupted operational environments. VIAVI will present at the exhibition on various topics, sharing insights on cutting-edge advancements in the navigation domain.

Strategic Acquisitions Driving Progress

Doug Russell, Senior Vice President for Aerospace and Defense at VIAVI, emphasized the importance of VINS and the RSR Transcoder, noting how strategic acquisitions have allowed the company to harness the capability for resilient timing and highly accurate navigation solutions. By integrating intelligent sensor fusion, holdover, and dead reckoning, Inertial Labs aims to deliver unparalleled operating reliability and user-friendly mechanisms.

Overall, the recent developments by Inertial Labs and VIAVI Solutions indicate a forward-thinking approach in overcoming the challenges presented by GNSS vulnerabilities, marking a significant milestone in the aerospace sector's navigation technology landscape.